Let's Pretend It's a Bird

Poem - by Roger Dutcher

Let’s pretend it’s a bird

Sending its plaintive call

Across the turgid brown water,

And that we are sitting,

As we once did,

Eating and drinking here

Where “now” is a burned shell

Of old memories.

Let’s pretend it’s a bird,

And not the sound

Of the death of the world

Weary from dying trees

And flowers which no longer

Recall Spring or warmth

But only the harsh cold

Wind of bitter memories.

Let’s pretend it’s a bird

And we are listening 

To music played again

With abandon and joy

On the river’s bank,

Where water flows

Clear and fast; snowmelt

From distant mountains.

Let’s pretend it’s a bird

And that there are others,

Whole flocks of birds

Filling the skies and

The waters and we,

We are there to see

And can depart from memories

And forget pretending.

Hear their post-apocalyptic

Songs of hope

Which fill the sky

And cross the waters.

Beside the river,

Let us stand here, listen

To the sounds.

Let’s pretend it’s a bird.